Joanna Lumley 'outstandingly optimistic' after Gurkha meeting

Joanna Lumley, the actress who has championed the cause of Gurkha soldiers to
live in Britain, said it "could not be a better day" after meeting
Gordon Brown ahead of a Government announcement on settlement rights.

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Campaign lawyer David Enright said: "We think it is more or less a fait accompli but we have had several false dawns before."

Mr Brown previously told the House of Commons he had a "great deal of sympathy and support" for the Gurkhas, saying: "I believe it is possible for us to honour our commitment to the Gurkhas and to do so in a way that protects the public finances."

The Government suffered a major defeat on the issue in the Commons last month before the Prime Minister agreed to meet Ms Lumley to discuss the issue.

She then cornered Immigration Minister Phil Woolas in a TV studio after a group of veterans were sent letters telling them their applications had been rejected.

Earlier this week, Home Office and Ministry of Defence officials met Gurkha groups at talks hosted by the Home Affairs Committee.

Afterwards the committee wrote to the Prime Minister asking for all Gurkhas to be given citizenship rights.

Labour MP Martin Salter, who sits on the committee and chaired a group of MPs calling for Gurkha rights, said: "This has been a long and brilliantly fought campaign both inside and outside parliament.

"It has encapsulated the British sense of fair play and forced the Government to look again at a policy that was blatantly discriminatory."